Is it really December?

I can't believe how time flies and that my last post was in October.
I have done awful at getting any recent pictures of the kids too.
We are trying to live differently each day. We learned so many things while we lived in Haiti. We learned so many things from our students, our friends and neighbors. We miss them all dearly. They are such happy content people, many have nothing. Many have only 4 walls surrounding them for their house and that is it. No painted walls, no decor, no furniture, no material things. No car, no toys, no closets full of clothes. Many don't have food to eat each day. Many don't have presents to give their kids for birthdays and holidays. My mind constantly journeys back to the poor we saw day after day, to stories our students would tell us of things going on in their family and household. And yet through all of their hardships and trials, they were/are so happy and content. The students would come to school, dressed in their best clothes, ready to learn and to hear about Jesus. What examples they were and still are for our family and so many more. And how silly my problems seem in comparison to their struggles day after day.
We are trying to live simple here in America, and that is a challenge everyday. We are all surrounded by so many things, so many material things, so much excess. And in this world, they tell you to want more, to buy more, to get more, etc. When it comes down to it, none of those things matter! Who cares what clothes you have, what your house looks like, what kind of car you drive, etc. We have fallen so many times into these lies and I get so frustrated about it at times.
Right now we are trying to get out of debt completely. Can't wait for that glorious day, let me tell you, there will be a big party at our house! We are in the process of trying to sell our car so we don't have a car loan. At times I get selfish and don't want to sell it. But I have to keep remembering, it is just a thing of this world and we don't need it! We are also working hard on paying off school debt. Through all of this, God is faithful and provides for our everyday needs. We are so very blessed.
I continue to watch kids at home, today I have 5 little ones under the age of 3. Nap time is a glorious thing! Really I am so blessed and have such great kids to watch. And Lyndlee and Gavin love having friends over each day!
Lyndlee is doing great, learning her letters and sounds. She is my little helper, she loves to clean. Right now we are working on Christmas ornaments to send to other adoptive families. She is so cute and creative! She is talking and using so many sentences. I know I always comment on that but she didn't used to talk really at all and I was worried about that.
Gavin is doing great, growing and eating like crazy. Seriously my boy can put away food like no one else! He is almost bigger than his sister, by weight and height. It brings us so much joy to watch him grow because he had such a rough start. You can't tell that now though!
Brennan continues to keep busy with work and youth things. He is great at his work and the kids really respect him and look up to him. He is a great daddy, provider and best friend.
We have a few more trips coming up to see friends and family along with youth trips on the weekends. And then we will rest at home and take it easy for a bit. March is our next big trip. We are taking a vacation with our dear friends who we ministered with in Haiti. We are meeting at Santo Domingo and spending a week together. Can't wait, it has been too long since we have seen them. And we love traveling internationally. Just nervous imagining Gavin on a plane, he doesn't like to sit for a long time!
Hope you have a blessed Christmas.